Sport Projectile Return Device

ABSTRACT

A sports training device to practice shooting, kicking, throwing, launching or hitting a sports projectile such as a baseball, golf ball or ice hockey puck; comprising of a tether attached to the projectile, and an electromechanical drive mechanism to act on the tether to return the projectile. In the case of baseball hitting practice, a batter would hit a ball attached to the tether; the ball would travel the length of the tether. The other end of the tether would be secured to the device body. The batter would activate the device to return the ball. The drive mechanism consists of a drive roller attached to a motor, and an idler roller attached to a lever. After the tether is let out the user depresses the lever, pinching the tether between the rollers and activating the motor simultaneously, thus hauling the tether. The tether coils upon itself when it returns.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a return device for sport projectile objects such as balls and pucks used in games and athletic sports. Such a device has particular application to practice for sports where repeated shooting, kicking, throwing, launching or hitting is desirable in order for a player to develop a consistent, controlled and accurate athletic movement.

The present invention provides a means for the sport projectile to be returned to the user for repeated shooting, kicking, throwing, launching or hitting enabling the user to practice the appropriate movement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Baseball practice has consisted of using a batting tee where a baseball is placed on a pole and a batter strikes the ball with a baseball bat. The baseball would typically either be hit into a field, net, backstop or fence. The disadvantage of hitting into a field is the retrieval of the ball; into a net is in the setup and requirements of a net and retrieval of the ball; into a backstop or fence is the damage inflected on the backstop or fence by the ball and retrieval of the ball.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This device contains a sports projectile connected to a tether and a means to haul the tether back to the user. The tethered projectile prevents the projectile from damaging property, and eliminates the need for a net setup. The returning of the projectile to the user via hauling the tether eliminates the need to retrieve the projectile.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This device consists of a base, housing, tether, lever arm and drive system. The drive system includes a drive roller directly connected to a motor and an idler roller attached to a pivoted lever. When the lever end is depressed the idler roller pinches the tether against the drive roller. When the lever is not depressed, a spring or gravity separates the rollers. The surfaces of the rollers are such that they impart sufficient friction on the tether for hauling.

In the starting position the projectile is secured to the tether, set on a projectile holder such as a baseball tee, golf mat or hockey puck mat. The tether goes between the two open rollers, and is coiled behind the rollers on the ground or base of the devise. The other end of the tether is secured to the base or housing.

The user would impart an action to launch the projectile. During the projectile launch, the tether uncoils and runs freely between the open rollers until the rope is taut and stops the projectile.

At this time the user depressed the end of the lever, which causes the idler roller to pinch against the drive roller, sandwiching the tether between the rollers. Depressing the lever simultaneously closes an electrical switch which activates the drive roller motor. These actions haul the tether and dispense the tether into a coil. The user continues to depress the lever until the projectile returns to the projectile holder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing internal components of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical side elevation of the device showing the internal components.

FIG. 3 is a vertical side elevation showing the motor and battery.

The device comprises of a self contained unit having a base 1 attached to a housing unit 2. (Only half of the housing unit is shown for illustration purposes). An area 3 is provided for the coiled tether. The motor 4 is attached to the drive roller. The battery 5 is attached to the housing unit 2. The motor shaft 6 is through the drive roller 7. A pin 8 through the housing unit acts as a fulcrum for a lever 9. Connected to the end of the lever within the housing is an idler roller 10. A spring 11 may be connected between the lever and housing to position the lever such that the rollers are separated while the lever is not being depressed (open position). A switch 12 is placed between the lever and housing, the switch is open when the lever is in the open position. A projectile holder 13 is used to support the sport projectile. A tether 14 is fastened to a sport projectile, such as a ball 15, with the other end fastened to the base 1 or housing 2. The tether 14 runs between the rollers 7 and 10. 

1. A portable sport projectile return device adapted for returning of a sports projectile such as a ball to the user for use in athletic development such as swinging, comprising of: a base; a housing; a tether; two pinch rollers consisting of a drive roller and an idler roller; a lever connected to the idler roller to pinch the tether between the idler roller and drive roller; an electric motor connected to the drive roller; a switch system to control the motor.
 2. The sport projectile return device of claim 1 wherein the lever simultaneously pinches the rollers and controls the drive motor via an electrical switch.
 3. The sport projectile return device of claim 1 wherein the lever creates a space between the rollers with the use of a spring or gravity when the lever is not depresses, to allow for free letting of the tether through the rollers.
 4. The sport projectile return device of claim 1 wherein the device allows for the coiling of the tether upon itself while being hauled in.
 5. The sport projectile return device of claim 1 wherein the housing is made to have a small gap between the sides of the rollers and housing such that the tether cannot slip out to the sides of either roller. 